Fleet tugs rescued hundreds of ships in combat, bad weather
Can we help save this one?
By Edward Lundquist
During a recent visit to the Hampton Roads Navy Museum (www.hrnm.navy.mil/) co-located at Nauticus (www.nauticus.org) in Norfolk, Va., I saw a World War II-vintage ocean-going “fleet tug.” My first ship was a fleet tug, and I can’t help but notice when one is in the same harbor that I’m in. In this case, it was at the end of the same pier I was on.
I walked down to get a closer look. There was a gentleman throwing breadcrumbs at the sea gulls. I walked closer to take in the familiar lines that only a fleet tug sailor would admire. The gentleman and I acknowledge each other, and I ask if I can come aboard. He says, “It depends. Are you a visitor or a guest?” I look at him and say, “Harry?” He says, “Ned?”
Harry Jaeger and I both served on fleet tugs—designa... [More]